Star Wars Infinities: The Warrior
By Christopher W. Blaine (darth_yoshi@yahoo.com)
DISCLAIMER: The characters and situations contained in this story are ©2003 by George Lucas and are used herein without permission for fan-related, non-profit entertainment purposes only. This original work of fiction is ©2003 by Christopher W. Blaine and may not be reproduced in part or as a whole without the express permission of the author.
CHAPTER 27
"Mara?" Talon said as he poked his head into the office of the base supply officer. Mara looked up from her noteputer and threw back her hair. She was looking better, he decided, or possibly she was learning to internalize her rage.
"Talon," she said with a smile, beckoning him to enter. He did so, nodding an acknowledgement to Threepio, who was busy arguing with a military procurement droid. The smuggler took a seat and gave the office a quick glance. It was sparse in furnishings, Mara having sold most of her possessions on the black market via Xizor's connections. Chandrillan artifacts were, despite the civil war, bringing in high value with collectors.
"I understand that Tarkin's forces have taken control of Sluis Van," she said as she handed over a flimsy printout. "That means spare parts for any Sorosub fighters or ships are going to be hard to come by."
Talon nodded and handed back the form. "I understand that there's been a formal evacuation order."
She nodded and turned to him. He noted that she was wearing her sidearm again. She hadn't been seen without it since Chandrilla. "Admiral Harkov and Rear Admiral Ackbar have received a signal from one of our spies. We're putting together a fleet to head there now."
Talon was fully aware of it all especially since he had been heavily involved on procuring the equipment needed to outfit star destroyers for handling X-Wing fighters. Admiral Harkov had been working with the Rebellion for many months, starting his relationship simply as a way to secure a better retirement than an Imperial pension offered. Tarkin's revolt and the Emperor's death had forced the reluctant admiral to choose sides. In the three-way war, only the Rebellion offered him the chance to escape execution if they were victorious.
Ackbar was something else entirely. A member of the Mon Calamari race, he had been put into Imperial bondage as many of his species had. Extremely intelligent, he had been assigned as the personal valet of then Moff Tarkin, where he was privy to many sessions of Imperial tactics. Freed through the efforts of the Rebellion, he had become not only one of the highest ranking rebel officers, but also the preferred expert on Tarkin's methods.
The civil war that was erupting was not so much and explosion of civil disobedience as it was more of a slow military build-up. Where the Rebels had expected and even hoped for the complete erosion of military order, they had borne witness to almost nothing. Instead of shoot-outs at every garrison post, the military of the New Order was slowly dividing into separate camps in preparation for the coming struggle.
Planetary governments were swearing allegiance to either Tarkin or this new Lord Ravage, whomever he was, with the occasional world, such as Kessel opting to join the Rebellion. "I guess we'll be leaving then," he said, probing her for a response. Would she now sever their relationship with Mon Mothma dead?
"Not all of us," she said, a look of concern on her face. "Chewbacca has been missing for twelve hours; so has Malakie. The security chief thinks they might have been killed by a jungle predator." She didn't sound convinced. "I was just getting ready to head out to look for them. Chewie needs to come with us, but Malakie will have to make his own decision." Her tone betrayed nothing and neither did her green eyes.
"I'll have the Wilde Karrde prepped…"
"No, we'll go by foot, following the path out to the temples. Threepio will come with us as well," she said. Talon wasn't too happy about that, but he was more concerned about the missing Wookie. He knew that Chewbacca had gone off to see what Malakie was up to, but he wasn't aware that the big Wookie had not returned.
Mara looked away and Talon unrepentantly found himself saying what he felt. "Are you in love with Malakie?"
She froze in mid-turn. Her shoulders stiffened and he wondered if perhaps his tongue had gotten him in more trouble he could possibly handle. She turned back to him and her youthful features suddenly seemed much older. There was a look of pure fury to her eyes that then suddenly disappeared.
If anything, her time with the Rebellion had taught her to cool the fiery temper she was better known for. When she spoke, her tone was polite but cold. "Mr. Karrde," she began, the title making him feel as old as the Emperor, "perhaps its time that you and I discussed the terms of our relationship. " He started to speak but then he felt a slight stab at his brain as she used her nascent Force powers to silence him. He was thankful she wasn't fully trained. "While my mother and Prince Xizor have had nothing but compliments for your honesty, integrity and ability to perform under pressure, and while I have found you to be a good, loyal friend, I have no interest in sharing my personal life with you." She stood up and sat on the corner of her desk and ordered Threepio and the other droid out of the room. When they were alone she looked down at Talon. "I know how you think you feel about me, but whatever those emotions are will pass in time."
He wanted to disagree with her but he felt like it was the wrong thing to do. She leaned in closer, her voice hypnotic. "You are not in love with me. People who care about me get hurt."
A buzzing seemed to be filling his brain and Talon shook his head vigorously. Suddenly, his embarrassment was replaced by anger. "Don't ever do that again," he said, his voice deep. "I wasn't aware you knew how to do that."
Mara gave no hint if she was surprised; she only shrugged at his comment. "It's easier this way. My entire life is nothing now, except whatever future I can make for myself."
"That doesn't give you the right to violate my thoughts," Talon responded, realizing now that there was a side to Mara Mothma he had not even imagined. Was this the reason why she was attracted to Malakie? Was there so very much more to the alien that Talon had guessed.
"There are so many things about me that you do not know, Talon, things that I'm not quite sure of myself." She sighed and returned back to her chair and punched in some commands into her computer. When information began to scroll onto the screen, she handed it over.
Talon didn't look until her eyes indicated he was supposed to. He scanned the information, taking it in slowly. Normally, he would be able to absorb such data in a matter of seconds, a skill most smugglers acquired over time.
It appeared to be a standard blood sample and DNA profile. It was routine procedure for anyone reporting to the base to go through one to ensure that they were not carrying any type of biological contaminants or were faking their identity for Imperial purposes. The name at the top read "Mara Mothma" and listed her planet of origin as Chandrilla. Most of the information was unexceptional. "You are not pregnant," he said with sarcasm, though he did not that she was taking a standard birth control chemical. It was not one native to Chandrilla and it told him that she might have been sexually active since she arrived on Yavin.
"Look at the discrepancy notes," she said, leaning forward and placed her elbows on her knees.
Talon went further down the report to the section and read the comments placed there by the medical droid and further investigated by the base medical officer. It indicated a high midi-chlorian level, which Talon had learned in recent weeks was a measure of Jedi ability. Malakie's blood sample had been unreadable for the level because his blood had properties that made it too alien for the equipment.
After that was something very odd. "According to this, your blood make-up doesn't relate to either of your parents." Over the centuries scientists had discovered that environmental factors such as gravity and diet could effect the specific composition of human blood. Because humans had populated so many planets, it became somewhat easy to determine what someone's true planet of birth was. "You have some characteristics of Chandrilla, but you carry a specific blood anomaly associated with persons from the Merfson Corridor."
Talon rubbed his beard while Mara told him what she had learned. "The Merfson Corridor is the name of a series of planets that inhabit the region between the Corporate Sector and some Outer Territories. A high number of Jedi Knights came from some of the worlds there. They were considered unique because they were some of the very few Jedi that were not only allowed to marry, but to also have children."
She looked away, like she was trying to peer into the past. "For whatever reason, my mother chose to hide the truth from me. My past is a lie. Why did she refuse to tell me?" Tears were now starting to form and Talon realized the personal torture that Mara had to have been putting herself through over the past few weeks.
With Chandrilla gone and Bail Organna dead, there was nobody to tell Mara who she really was. She had nobody to truly turn to in the Rebellion, as she was something of a freak. The medical officer and medical droids were sworn to secrecy regarding her midi-chlorian level.
She had nobody to share her pain with except Malakie, who also had Force-ability. In the midst of tragedy, she had found a kindred spirit and the two of them were able to share something that Talon could never understand. "I didn't know…"
"I appreciate your feelings for me, but we are far too different, Talon. My destiny is with the Rebellion now, though I don't really know why I stay. It was my mother's…my mother's dream, not mine."
Talon was still at a loss for words. She stood up and adjusted her gun belt and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "We are friends, that's all."
Friends don't try to influence their friend's minds, he thought to himself. He swore then to discover some way to counteract such things as Jedi mind-tricks.
"I've got something on my scanner," Boba said silently. His helmet mike relayed the information to his father, who was several meters away in another tree. "Two humans and a droid."
Jango acknowledge the information and continued to scan the temple area with the multiple lenses of his helmet. The main courtyard of the area was disturbed, as if a battle had taken place. An earlier reconnaissance had brought about the discovery of blood and two Wookie arms. No doubt Mothma's bodyguard's.
"It might be our target; do you want me to intercept?" Boba asked, tightening his grip on his rifle. He changed the setting for kill.
Jango detected the anxiousness in his son's voice. "Negative. Let's bring them into the temple area if that is where they are heading. The unique construction will prevent any blaster fire from being detected by the Rebels." The last thing Jango wanted was a troop of Rebel soldiers crashing out of the jungle on top of them.
"Yes, father," Boba responded, not happy at all. He felt his father was being too cautious now. He didn't doubt his father's bravery, but all of the sneaking around in the jungle was wearing on the younger bounty hunter's nerves.
Moments later, Mara, Talon and Threepio passed underneath Boba's position. He took them in with a trained eye, noting that both humans were armed, Talon carrying an especially nasty looking Imperial rapid-fire personal assault weapon. His target he noted was a fine looking specimen, especially in the black flight suit she chose to wear. It was a shame to think that someone so pretty would end up most likely dead at the hands of Lord Ravage, Tarkin or perhaps even Boba himself.
That really wasn't any of his concern though and he informed his father of the defenses of the search party. Jango told him to begin making his way towards the temples. "Once you're here, we'll stun the man, shoot the droid and take the woman."
Behind the Mandalorian helmet, Boba Fett smiled.
